College of Optometry Names Jim Berglund OD '60 First Recipient of Kamelia Massih Prize for a Distinguished Optometrist

Joe Lang

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Pacific University's College of Optometry has named alumnus, longtime benefactor and Trustee Emeritus James H. (Jim) Berglund OD '60 as the inaugural recipient of the Kamelia Massih Prize for a Distinguished Optometrist.

The annual prize is the principal honor recognizing a Pacific alumnus or alumna who has made a significant impact on the optometry profession. The Kamelia Massih Prize for a Distinguished Optometrist is supported through an endowment established by the estate of late alumna Kamelia Massih OD '85.

Beloved by her family, friends and patients, Dr. Massih passed away in March 2010 following a three-year battle with cancer.

Dr. Massih's brother, Fariborz Maseeh, PhD, presented the award to Dr. Berglund at the College of Optometry's annual commencement ceremony, held May 21.

“It is truly an honor for me to be the first recipient of the Kamelia Massih Prize," Berglund said. "It is a very thoughtful gesture of her family, including her brother Fariborz Maseeh, to work with the College of Optometry to honor her memory and love of the optometric profession."

A 1960 graduate of the College of Optometry, Dr. Berglund served the Army as a member of its Counterintelligence Corps prior to pursuing a career in vision care. He spent 21 years in the optical field, both in private practice and in the eye care products industry.

His career includes service as president of Central Laboratories, general manager of the American Optical Contact Lens Division and president of Continuous Curve Contact Lens, Inc.

In 1985, Dr. Berglund co-founded Enterprise Partners Venture Capital. He has directed numerous additional companies, been a general partner of several more venture capital endeavors and served on several boards and committees in the greater San Diego area where he resides.

Dr. Berglund and his wife Mary '58 donated $3 million in 2000 to establish the Berglund Center for Internet Studies. The funds were transferred to construct Berglund Hall, a LEED-certified building that houses the Berglund Center for Internet Studies as well as the College of Education, its Early Learning Community daycare and the College of Arts & Sciences' Business Department.

Dr. Massih cared deeply about others — patients, family, friends and strangers alike — giving countless hours of time and financial resources to those she knew as well as to a wide range of local and national charities.

After earning her doctorate of optometry from Pacific in 1985, Dr. Massih opened her own practice, Beaverton Vision World, in 1989, and later opened a second location in Portland.

"Kamelia had a keen affinity for Pacific University," Massih's brother Fariborz Maseeh said. "The gift from her estate is intended to recognize excellence of optometry graduates of Pacific University. Dr. Berglund preceded Kamelia as a practitioner, but his lifetime commitment to the values Kamelia held so dear makes him most worthy of being this award's first honoree."